Please help me identify this new mystery noise.

[CREGAN]

My van has in the past week developed a strange chirping/squeeking/rattling noise coming from one of the wheels or suspension components because it only happens when I am riding over any kind of slightly uneven or rough roads. Ever little bump seems to make it chirp or squeek and it seems to be getting louder. To me it sounds a bit like it is coming from the back. All I have done to it in the past week or so is that I put a new bushing on the passenger side torrsion bar. I used to have a problem similar to this back in my domestic car days and the dealership said that it was the shock or strut mount that needed greasing. Seemed odd and it also seemed to require it almost yearly. Any ideas what this noise might be and how to fix it (without being forced to bend over and expose my wallet at a shop here)?

Craig

[nxski]

I had the same thing for about 3months after replacing the bushings. I have no idea what it was but as soon as my lift kit went in the sound went away.

[tonydca]

I had very similar issues with mine after its first off-road thrashing. Turns out the ball joints needed replacing in the front. Butch/CVI took care of it.

[CREGAN]

I had very similar issues with mine after its first off-road thrashing. Turns out the ball joints needed replacing in the front. Butch/CVI took care of it.

There were no off-road thrashings going on here.....yet. Just a lot of highway driving. Wish there was a shop I felt comfortable with around here, or that Mardy was not so far away! My father-in-law has a hoist in his shop so I am going to get it up there and do an oil-change/inpection in a couple weeks. I just don't know where to look to stop this squeek.

[tonydca]

I had very similar issues with mine after its first off-road thrashing. Turns out the ball joints needed replacing in the front. Butch/CVI took care of it.

There were no off-road thrashings going on here.....yet. Just a lot of highway driving. Wish there was a shop I felt comfortable with around here, or that Mardy was not so far away! My father-in-law has a hoist in his shop so I am going to get it up there and do an oil-change/inpection in a couple weeks. I just don't know where to look to stop this squeek.

Mostly that it was probably the first heavy use it had in 15 years, and stuff does perish over time. Good to have all your front end rubber looked at - I had my CV boots replaced too 'cuz they were starting to crack ($$), before they let in a bunch of dirt and crap, ruining my CV joints themselves ($$$$ for them *plus* the boots)

[jessef]

Have someone heavy bounce up and down on the rear bumper while you trace the squeak. Springs will squeak easily in the rear

[FalcoColumbarius]

Could be one of two things: a/ You have dust in your bushings (very easy to fix); or b/ You have a monkey climbing around in your suspension.

Over the last year there have been forest fires in BC that have burned down many of those dead pine trees that the pine beetle has killed. Not sure how much this would affect Alberta but this has put a very fine soot in the air, which has left a very fine dust on the ground ~ which gets everywhere ~ check your air filter while you're at it. I was driving FSRs up around Kamloops last Summer and it was like driving through talcum powder, which I have been assured is not normal.

If it is a ball joint then to check that you just need to lift the front of the Delica (so the wheels are off the ground). With one hand grab the top part of the tyre; with the other hand grab the bottom part of the tyre ~ then see if you can wiggle the wheel back and forth. If you can then you need to deal with the ball joint before too long. By the way, I drive the L300 so I am not very familiar with the L400 and am generally speculating.

One thing I will add, this could be a sign of shock absorbers not holding enough pressure, thereby affecting the suspension to bend more than it usually does. Might be worth looking into.

A good penetrating lubricant (not WD40) to the bushings of your wishbone joints could help with this issue. See: L400 Shop Manual: Front Suspension.

Hope this helps... smiles.

Falco.

[Spearo]

I just replaced the sway bar bushings and the mice stopped squeaking!

[CREGAN]

OK, what I have done: I re-did the bushing that I just replaced while stripping out 2 new bolts. Not very fun while laying underneath - my neck feels broken! Then I noticed the spare tire was a little squeeky as the metal cage is resting on the wheel rubber and moving a little, so I loosened the spare, readjusted, and retightened. Better. THEN I noticed that still when I pull on or wiggle the torsion bar it makes the noise I have been trying to solve. It turns out that the stabilizer link connector is loose. Right where the nut goes through the torsion/sway bar. It is rattling whenever I hit a bump. It requires and allen key to hold the bolt from moving and then to spin the nut with a wrench. Well, best of luck on that one. With 2 coats of penetrating oil I still could not get it to budge. Any ideas on this one? I won't have access to a hoist and shop until the 28th (I have the best father-in-law). I really want to tighten that up soon because the rattling is driving me crazy.

[jessef]

I usually always have to crack it off with an air gun. The allen bolt hole is not good for loosening a siezed nut. It will round the allen wrench quickly.

[CREGAN]

I usually always have to crack it off with an air gun. The allen bolt hole is not good for loosening a siezed nut. It will round the allen wrench quickly.

Without the allen key the bolt just spins.

[jessef]

The recessed Allen socket is there to use when installing and removing 'if' it's not seized.

Vice grips will do the job